Bingocize - UKRF-KY0032871-CMP #2021-04-KY-0614

A lack of social engagement and physical activity may contribute to a continued decline in functional mobility, activities of daily living, and an increase in fall risk in certified nursing facility (CNF) residents. Exercise can help prevent chronic diseases and falls in older adults, but unfortunately, less than 15% of older adults exercise regularly. A significant barrier to improving the health and well-being of sedentary older adults is getting them to adhere to an exercise-based health promotion program. Many older adults report that traditional exercise programs are not enjoyable, leading to inactivity, social isolation, and related health issues. Multimodal interventions (targeting multiple aspects of physical and/or cognitive health) are most likely to produce improvements. Therefore, there is a significant need for easy-to-use and enjoyable CNF activities capable of increasing physical activity. Bingocize®, a strategic combination of exercise and the game of bingo, is an innovative, structured, and evidence-based program shown to increase older adults’ quality of life - an important Civil Money Penalty Grant (CMP) focus area. Recognizing the impact Bingocize® has on culture change and quality of life of CNF residents, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has supported this program with previous awards in Kentucky (KY), Tennessee, and Mississippi. The first 3-year CMP in KY was awarded in April of 2017, in which University of Kentucky (UK) partnered with the developers at Western Kentucky University (WKU), to help support regional reach of the program. So far, in KY, this project has positively impacted over 1,350 residents, 800 university students, faculty, and CNF staff. Benefits of this evidence-based approach show social, cognitive, and physical improvements among CNF residents, reinforcing the need to support sustainable efforts statewide. Thus, the primary goal for this proposed project is to expand the reach of Bingocize® across Kentucky CNFs, using the established, successful model. The second goal is to facilitate strong, sustainable community-engaged partnerships between faculty and students across six regional universities and CNF sites/staff. The third goal is to further support CNF staff and university partners with ongoing training to include new content and/or adaptation related to infection control, falls prevention, universal design, and strategies to overcome social isolation with innovative program strategies. Volunteer CNF residents will be recruited from 20 CNF facilities across KY to reach a minimum of an additional 1,1100 total new residents, to participate in two Bingocize® sessions per week. Project measures of success will be evaluated by 1) tracking the number of trained CNF staff and faculty/students at each training session, 2) tracking the number of residents in attendance at each participating CNF, 3) assessing baseline and post- knowledge and self-efficacy annually among trained CNF staff, and faculty/students, and 4) assessing CNF residents’ direct improvement in the following outcomes: falls and number of falls since last assessment, as well as social engagement as measured by the Fun and Social Engagement Evaluation (FUSE). Dr. Ickes, Associate Professor in Health Promotion at UK will lead the proposed project and evaluation efforts. Dr. Ickes has extensive experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as is evidenced by over $1.5 million in state contracts for such work. Dr. Ickes has collaborated with Dr. Jason Crandall, Director and Associate Professor of Exercise Science, and Director of the Center for Applied Science in Health and Aging (CASHA), at WKU, since 2017. This continued collaboration will provide an opportunity to effectively implement the project and contribute to overall lessons learned regarding statewide expansion and sustainability efforts with a health promotion lens.